Mr Hilgers, 59 and labeled a Christian Democrat, is the longest-serving member of the BNB’s board. His mandate ends in March and, under an agreement reached last year within the federal government, he must be replaced by a candidate proposed by Ecolo.
The Greens, the only political family of the executive which does not have a representative on the management committee of the BNB, have thus put forward the name of Géraldine Thiry, professor at the Ichec Management School. On Wednesday, the Regency Council decided to refuse this appointment and extended Jean Hilgers for a new term. The members of the board, although appointed by the government and the social partners, would have felt instrumentalized to the detriment of the Bank, according to The time.
The hot potato is ultimately up to the federal executive, which can override the decision. However, this would be a first.